Cardiff University has reentered the UK’s top 20 universities according to rankings compiled by The Sunday Times University Guide 2013.

Cardiff University has re-entered the UK’s top 20 universities according to rankings compiled by The Sunday Times University Guide 2013.

It now ranks joint 19th after moving up from 26th in the annual guide which will be published on Sunday.

Meanwhile Cardiff comfortably scoops this year’s top in Wales title, finishing 26 places higher than its nearest rival Swansea, which has overtaken Aberystwyth in second place.

Swansea has risen up the national rankings to 45th from 57th, while Aberystwyth has dropped to 62nd from 48th.

Bangor University is fourth in 74th place and is followed by the University of Glamorgan (92nd), Glyndwr University (106th), University of Wales Trinity St David (107th), Cardiff Metropolitan University (109th) and University of Wales, Newport (118th).

The guide, which takes into account a range of determining factors, found Cardiff University had the best teaching in Wales (77.9%) according to student satisfaction surveys, low graduate unemployment (7.2%) and a high proportion of leavers gaining graduate-level jobs (80.9%).

The University, where professor Colin Riordan took over as vice-chancellor this month, was also shortlisted for the Sunday Times University of the Year award.

The University of Glamorgan actually boasted a slightly better graduate unemployment rate (6.7%) which the survey attributed in part to work-relevant courses and job placements translating into good prospects

Glyndwr University’s 81.6% rate for graduate-level jobs was the best in Wales – and among the top 25 in Britain – coming after an eventful year which saw the university fight off a merger and buy Wrexham Football Club’s Racecourse Ground.

The Sunday Times University Guide is in its 15th year of publication.

Changes to the methodology of the league table last year have placed greater emphasis on student satisfaction with teaching quality, academic support, assessment and feedback, as measured through the 2012 National Student Survey, published on Thursday.

Alastair McCall, editor of The Sunday Times University Guide, said: “Our league table rewards those universities which have placed great focus on providing top quality teaching, with prompt and useful feedback on students’ work and assessment.

“If a university provides a great student experience, can offer good graduate job prospects, plus a strong track record for degree completion and outcomes, good rankings and students will follow.”

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